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Do Nightstand Lamps Need to Match? (Explained)

Nightstand lamps are the tools that enhance the vibe of your room. There can be one or two nightstand lamps in a room. And they can be similar or different in their looks.

Do nightstand lamps need to match?

Nightstand lamps can match. But it is not necessary that they have to be the same every time. You can also mix your nightstand lamps. You can blend your nightstand lamps according to your taste and choice. But make sure they are well arranged and gives a decent vibe to your room.

You can try on different lamps for the same room. As long as they hold the aesthetics, you can mix and match your nightstand lamps.

Can you mix and match nightstand lamps?

Lighting is one of the most important factors when it comes to the vibe of your room. Proper lighting can make your room look vibrant. Inadequate lighting can make it look pale and uninteresting.

Nightstand lamps add to the decor of your room and make it look classy and aesthetic. And these lamps can be mixed and matched to suit your taste and choice.

If you have more than one nightstand lamp in your room, you can either get two similar lamps or two different lamps.

Matching lamps give your room more of a consistent look. It maintains an equilibrium look on both sides of the bed.

Yet, you can certainly think of mixing different styles of nightstand lamps in a room. Mixing different kinds of lamps gives your room more of a stylish and fun look. You can select nightstand lamps of various shapes and sizes. But make sure they are of the same height.

In recent days mixing nightstands of different heights and design are also into style. So, you can go with any style as long as you feel comfortable with it.

Nightstand lamps serve another purpose other than only illuminating the room with its radiance. It serves the purpose of storage as well.

So you can also mix or match your nightstand lamps according to storage usage.

How to mix and match nightstand lamps?

Nightstand lamps are mixed and matched in various ways. 

Size of room and bed:

If you have e spacious room, you can always buy traditional pairs of the same nightstand lamps.

But if you want to try on something different, then go for mixed nightstand lamps.

In little rooms, you can decide to coordinate with your lights in a similar size. And if you plan to mix your lamps, then try to maintain the height of the lamps.

Capacity of storage:

Often the drawers in the nightstand work as storage space. If you plan on matching the nightstands, it can give you a lot of storage space.

But if you want more of a vintage and free look, you can choose a nightstand with no cabinet or drawers.

Or you can choose a nightstand with a drawer and another one with no storage space.

 Make sure to maintain the height of the nightstands and lamps on both sides of the bed.

Proportionate height:

Whether you mix or match your lamps, make sure to maintain their heights.

Lamps of two different heights in the same room give off a disoriented look to the room. The aesthetics of the room vanishes.

Your lamp should be a little lower than your eye level. The base of the light should coordinate with the sleeping mattress.

If you are going to buy two different nightstands, choose them wisely. They should match the height or can be an inch or two short or long.

Color of lampshade and light:

Lampshades of the same color look traditional. It also illuminates the room equally.

You can mix your lampshade color. Buy two different colored lampshades to give two different looks to your room. But do not buy opposite colors.

 Try to maintain the contrast of colors for a better look.

Free-standing lamps or wall-fixed lamps:

On the off chance that you need to blend nightstand lights, another method of doing it is utilizing two distinct sorts of lights.

That is, you can choose a free-standing lamp on one side of your bed. Attach a fixed lamp to the wall of the other side of the bed. 

In this case, try to match the color of your lamps and nightstands. Since they are different in orientation, the same color will make it look like a pair.

You can also match two wall-fixed lamps for your bedsides. They look nice as well.

Texture and shapes:

There are lamps of various shapes and textures. If you want to have a blended look, try to mix and match each pair.

That is, use two same shape and different texture or use different textures but the same shape.

The texture and shape can be similar too. Use the same color in that case.

How tall should lamps be on the nightstand?

You have to choose your lamp for the nightstand in proportion to the size of your room. Consider the height of the mattress of your bed as well.

Choose a height that is suitable for your reading purpose.

Sometimes the height of the lamp is lower or higher than your eye level. This height difference can create disturbance for your eye comfort.

Lamps come in different heights. Your nightstand has to be at the same height as your bed. They can vary to a couple of inches also.

However, your light ought to be equivalent to the stature of your nightstand.

You can choose a lamp two to three inches taller than your nightstand as well. But do not cross this range. Else the lighting and ambiance will get disproportionate.

Ordinarily, nightstands come in the tallness of 24 to 26 inches. So the lamps on your nightstands have to be within the range of 24 to 29 inches.

Essentially, you need to coordinate with the stature of your lights following the tallness of your nightstands.

How do I choose a nightstand lamp?

Decorating your room with a lamp requires some details to be defined.

Keep in mind the size of your room. If you have a spacious room, your light can likewise be larger in size. Try to find a proportionate size if your room has less space.

The size of your mattress has to be three times the breadth of your nightstand. And you have to measure your lamp from the base. It should be roughly one-third of the width of your nightstand.

Do not buy a lamp that does not complement the look of your room. Try to coordinate with your light with the other furnishings.

The number of lamps you need for your nightstand depends on your usage. If you want more lighting and extra space, you can go for two nightstand lamps.

The size and plan of your light need to coordinate with the nightstand. Else there will be an asymmetrical look.

The lamps will not fit the ambiance if it does not match the nightstand.

The lampshade color and texture are the most important. This shade will determine the hue of the lighting in your room.

Say you want to go for a calming or lazy mood for the room. Then choose a darker shade that will lighten the room in a moody tone.

In case you want more joyous and vibrant lighting, go for brighter shades for your lamp.

How do you match a lampshade to a lamp?

Lampshades give off the hue of the lighting in your room. It should be in proportion to the size of the base of the lamp.

The color of lampshades is available in different options. There are many shapes of lampshades.

Whatever the shape, the width of the base of the light should be double the portion of the width of the lampshade. And the length of the whole lamp must be thrice the length of the lampshade.

Lighter color shades like white, yellow, teal, cream, etc., radiate more vibrant light.

Darker color shades like ash, gray, blue, etc., make the room gloomy and calm.

You can choose the color of your lampshade according to the mood of your room. Just match the contrasting color of the base of your lamp with the shade.

Should all lampshades be the same color?

It is not really necessary for lampshades to be the same color. It totally depends on your taste.

If you want to go for a sophisticated symmetrical look, you can choose the same colors for your lampshades.

Say you want to change the look to something fun. You can then play with the lampshade color. You can choose your lampshade color as you like.

Consider the color of your lamp base and nightstand. Take a look at the furnishings of your room.

Then choose your lampshade colors. Do not go for contradictory colors. Try to choose colors that have the same texture and contrast.

Moreover, you can also soothe the atmosphere of your room with these similar colored shades.

How many lamps should be in a room?

Some factors determine the number of lamps required in nightstand in a room.

If you are living with a partner, you will require two lights in your room. It gives you the advantage of utilizing your own lamps independently.

Moreover, you can use the nightstand as your stand for phones, chargers, water bottles, or books.

Nightstands usually come with storage space. So, two lamps can help manage the storage space of your room.

Your room gets a uniform look on each side of your bed. It gives a classy vibe to the room.

One nightstand lamp is enough for one person. So, one nightstand lamp is enough for a person living alone with a single bed and tight space.

Then you will have more space for your other essential furnishings.